Honestly, if you’re a Palace fan, this week has felt like a fever dream you can’t wake up from. It’s messy. One minute you’re celebrating a club-record signing, and the next, the manager is basically calling out the board on live TV.
Crystal Palace transfer news usually follows a familiar rhythm—finding a gem in the Championship or holding onto a star player until the very last second of deadline day. But January 2026? It’s completely off the rails.
The Guehi Exit: Why Now?
The big story—the one everyone is whispering about at Selhurst Park—is Marc Guehi. It’s done. Well, effectively done. Manchester City have stepped in with a £20 million bid that the Palace board just couldn't refuse.
You might ask why the price is so low for an England international. Basically, his contract was a ticking time bomb. With only six months left and Guehi making it crystal clear he wouldn’t sign an extension, Steve Parish had his back against the wall. It was either take the £20 million now or watch him walk to Liverpool or Bayern Munich for nothing in June.
Pep Guardiola didn't want to wait. With Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol sidelined, City needed a "plug and play" defender immediately.
Oliver Glasner is fuming. He didn't hold back after the Sunderland loss, saying the team felt "abandoned" by the timing. Selling your captain 24 hours before a match is... bold. Or chaotic. Depending on who you ask.
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Brennan Johnson and the New Record
While the Guehi exit feels like a gut punch, the arrival of Brennan Johnson from Tottenham for roughly £35-40 million is a massive statement. He’s already taken the No. 11 shirt.
Glasner wanted pace. He wanted someone who could stretch the pitch now that Eberechi Eze is gone (still hurts, doesn't it?). Johnson fits that "Palace profile" perfectly—young, fast, and already proven in the Premier League.
It’s a weird contrast. The club is spending big on attackers while the defensive core is being dismantled mid-season.
The Latest In and Out (January 2026)
- Brennan Johnson: In from Spurs (Club Record Fee).
- Marc Guehi: Out to Manchester City (Final stages).
- Sidiki Chérif: In talks. Personal terms are reportedly agreed with the 19-year-old Angers forward.
- Naouirou Ahamada: Out to Auxerre.
- Romain Esse: Out on loan to Coventry City to get some much-needed minutes.
The Mateta Situation: Is Italy Calling?
Jean-Philippe Mateta is the next name on the "maybe" list. Juventus are hovering. Luciano Spalletti is reportedly a big fan, and with Dusan Vlahovic’s future uncertain in Turin, they’ve made an official inquiry.
Palace are holding firm at £35 million. Mateta has 18 months left on his deal, so there isn't the same "sell now or lose him for free" panic that we saw with Guehi. But let’s be real: if a club like Juve comes knocking with a bag of cash, and the player wants the move, Palace usually find a way to make it work.
Glasner’s stance is simple: "There will be a price." If someone hits it, JP stays. If not, he’s leading the line for the rest of the season.
What Most People Get Wrong About Palace Strategy
People look at Palace and see a "selling club." That’s a bit of a lazy take.
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The reality is more about survival and evolution. The club has effectively transitioned into a European-competing side (don't forget that Conference League run!), but they don't have the commercial revenue of the "Big Six." They have to trade.
The anger from Glasner isn't about the fact they sold Guehi; it’s about the timing. Selling a key asset during a defensive injury crisis while you’re trying to balance domestic form with European knockout stages? That’s the part that feels like a gamble.
Moving Forward: The Rebuild Starts Now
The most shocking bit of Crystal Palace transfer news isn't even a player move. It’s Glasner.
The boss confirmed he’s leaving at the end of the season. He’s not quitting now—he’s got too much respect for the players—but he’s done in May. This means every signing made in the next two weeks has to work for the next manager, too.
Expect the club to push hard for Sidiki Chérif from Angers. They need more depth. They also desperately need a center-back to fill the Guehi-shaped hole in the locker room.
Actionable Insights for the Window:
- Watch the Chérif Deal: If this closes for under £20 million, it’s a classic Palace "buy low, sell high" move for the future.
- Defensive Reinforcements: Keep an eye on the loan market. Palace need a short-term fix at CB to help Max Alleyne and the youngsters.
- The Mateta Deadline: If Juve don't bid by January 25th, expect Mateta to stay until summer.
This window is about survival. Palace are 13th, the captain is gone, and the manager is leaving. The next few weeks will decide if the rest of 2026 is a success or a slow slide down the table.